Juniata County bus driver Diane Crawford fired over “English‑only” sign; federal probe claim unconfirmed
Diane Crawford, a 66-year-old school bus driver with over three decades of service, was fired in April 2025 by Rohrer Bus after posting an “English‑only” sign on her Juniata County school bus, prompting district action.
- Driver removed: Diane Crawford was removed from her route and had her contract terminated after admitting to placing an “English‑only” sign.
- District response: Juniata County School District and Rohrer Bus called the sign racially insensitive and moved quickly to end her contract.
- No confirmed federal probe: Local reporting includes no documented confirmation that the U.S. Department of Justice or the Civil Rights Division is investigating.
- Training and policy steps: The district arranged training with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and emphasized equitable, professional transport standards.
Key information
Who: Diane Crawford, 66, a long-time owner/operator subcontracted to Local21News reporting indicates she served the Juniata County School District.
What: Crawford placed a sign on her bus reading, “Out of respect to English-only students, there will be no speaking Spanish on this bus.” She was removed from her route and her contract with Rohrer Bus ended.
Where: Juniata County, Pennsylvania.
Federal angle: There is no documented public evidence in the cited local reporting that the U.S. Department of Justice or Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon is investigating this incident; local coverage and video show no confirmation of a federal probe.
Core incident: what happened on the bus
Crawford told reporters she placed the sign to address behavior she said originated with one bilingual student who had been “riling up” other children by speaking Spanish on the bus. She said she sometimes understood words like “gordo” (Spanish for “fat”) and believed some comments could be bullying directed at other students or at her. Crawford said her intent was to maintain order and safety on the bus.
“I meant to maintain order and safety,” Crawford told local reporters, insisting the sign aimed to curb disruptive behavior rather than to discriminate.
The district and contractor response
Juniata County School District and Rohrer Bus issued a joint statement saying they followed standard procedures, obtained a written admission from Crawford that she had installed the sign, and determined the conduct “did not align with the standards and expectations for student transportation providers.” The district and contractor described the sign as racially insensitive and said removal from the route followed a prompt review of the facts.
Process and training steps taken by the district
What began as a suspension pending investigation moved quickly after the district received Crawford’s written admission. The district and Rohrer arranged formal training with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission on April 17, 2025, for transportation staff. Training topics included employer responsibilities, professional expectations, student equity, and appropriate response protocols to behavior and discrimination concerns. The district emphasized a commitment to a “safe, respectful, and professional” environment for all students.
Crawford’s account and consequences
Crawford says she was not given a meaningful opportunity to explain her actions before termination, telling reporters she “never got to explain.” She insists the sign was meant to curb disruptive behavior and protect student safety, not to discriminate by race or language.
Personal impact: After losing the route she reports significant hardship: she says she went onto Medicare and Medicaid, began using SNAP benefits, started antidepressants, and faces roughly $30,000 in related debt after buying a bus and route in 2024. She is seeking redress or an acknowledgement that the district and contractor were wrong.
Community reaction
Local response has been mixed. A petition to rehire Crawford gathered more than 1,000 signatures, reflecting pockets of strong support and a view among some residents that the firing was an overreaction or misunderstanding. At the same time, officials framed the sign as inconsistent with nondiscriminatory policies and moved to address the issue quickly.
Federal investigation claim: what the record shows
Some social posts and commentary suggested a federal civil‑rights investigation and named Harmeet Dhillon, leader of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division under the current administration. Local reporting does not document any DOJ or Civil Rights Division statement confirming an investigation into this Juniata County case. The discrepancy may reflect confusion with other incidents or the spread of unverified social‑media claims. Treat claims of a federal probe as unverified until an official DOJ statement.
Related local coverage and video coverage include no confirmation of federal involvement.
Broader context: language, school discipline and employment standards
This episode highlights tensions schools face nationwide: maintaining order and safety on buses, addressing alleged bullying across language differences, and balancing employee discipline with speech‑related disputes. Districts and contractors commonly enforce codes of conduct for staff who work with children and must follow nondiscrimination rules and guidance on equal treatment of students. In this case, officials moved quickly to characterize the sign as inconsistent with those standards and to provide training to prevent recurrence.
Implications for United States
- Policy and procedure: Districts may view this as a reminder to clarify transportation staff policies on discipline, speech, and steps drivers should take when they perceive bullying.
- Labor and due process: The case raises questions about notice and opportunity to explain for owner/operators and contractors; transparent procedures can help protect both staff and students.
- Student safety and inclusion: Leaders must balance safety with inclusive policies that respect multilingual families; the district’s training with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission models one approach.
- Legal and federal scrutiny: While social posts have named a federal probe, local reporting contains no documentation of DOJ involvement; an official public notice would typically accompany any federal investigation.
Practical steps for districts and drivers
Practical moves for districts: clear anti‑bullying policies that account for multilingual students, routine training for transportation staff, written protocols for documenting incidents, and transparent disciplinary steps that include chances for drivers to explain and consider remedial measures where appropriate.
Reporting and sources
This account is based on local reporting and video coverage from Local21News/CBS 21, including on‑the‑record statements from Diane Crawford and a joint statement from Juniata County School District and Rohrer Bus. Full local reporting is available at Local21News reporting and related on‑camera coverage.
